The grandest of surroundings

Castles. They look great but they’re far too big and cost a fortune to run. An apartment in one gives you the grand style at a fraction of the price, Jack McKeown finds

Come off the A90 at St Madoes and look through the trees between the road and the River Tay. The turrets you see belong to Pitfour Castle, one of the area’s most magnificent buildings.

Constructed on the site of a former tower house, the castle was completed in the 1780s and enlarged in the 1820s.

After falling into disrepair during the 1960s it was converted into apartments in the 1970s.

Flat 8 is on the second floor and enjoys views over the surrounding countryside.

The one bedroom apartment enjoys the upsides of castle living such as large rooms and 14 foot high ceilings but is a manageable size.

It’s been refurbished over the past 18 months with a new shower room, rewiring and underfloor heating.

There are two entrances, one into a vestibule and hall and the other into the lounge. At 20’8” by 19’4” the lounge is a grand room, with an Adams-style fireplace and three tall windows giving views over the grounds to the River Tay.

The kitchen/dining room is equally large. The shower room is tucked in a turret off this room.

The spacious double bedroom has a tall window looking over the grounds.

Externally, there are communal garden grounds, a children’s play area, and plenty of parking. A long driveway leads to the road.

Flat 8, Pitfour Castle is on sale through Next Home for offers over £160,000. www.nexthomeonline.co.uk

Rooms with a spectacular view: Pitfour Castle looks out on to the Tay.